Exposure to an 890-MHz mobile phone-like signal and serum levels of S100B and transthyretin in volunteers
Söderqvist F, Carlberg M, Hansson Mild K, Hardell L · 2009
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at typical exposure levels may weaken the blood-brain barrier within an hour of use.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed 41 volunteers to cell phone radiation for 30 minutes and measured blood proteins that indicate blood-brain barrier damage. One protein increased significantly after exposure, suggesting cell phone radiation may temporarily weaken the brain's protective barrier.
Why This Matters
This study addresses one of the most concerning potential mechanisms of EMF harm: disruption of the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is your brain's critical defense system, preventing toxins and pathogens from entering brain tissue. The finding that transthyretin levels increased after just 30 minutes of exposure at 1.0 W/kg suggests this barrier may be compromised by cell phone radiation. What makes this particularly relevant is that 1.0 W/kg falls well within typical cell phone SAR levels, which can reach up to 1.6 W/kg in the US. The researchers were appropriately cautious about clinical significance, but the reality is that any compromise to the blood-brain barrier deserves serious attention. This study adds to growing evidence that EMF exposure creates biological effects at levels regulators consider 'safe,' reinforcing why you should minimize your exposure through simple precautions like using speakerphone and keeping devices away from your head.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 1 W/kg
- Source/Device
- GSM 890 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 min
Exposure Context
This study used 1 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 2.5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of this study was to test, using peripheral markers, whether exposure to a mobile phone-like signal alters the integrity of the human blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers.
A provocation study was carried out that exposed 41 volunteers to a 30 min GSM 890 MHz signal with a...
Repeated blood sampling before and after the provocation showed no statistically significant increa...
The clinical significance of this finding, if any, is unknown. Further randomized studies with use of additional more brain specific markers are needed.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2009_exposure_to_an_890mhz_187,
author = {Söderqvist F and Carlberg M and Hansson Mild K and Hardell L},
title = {Exposure to an 890-MHz mobile phone-like signal and serum levels of S100B and transthyretin in volunteers},
year = {2009},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037842740900246X},
}